Improved spring bed-bottom



' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE EEvIs, OE ROCHESTER, NEW YOEK, AssiGNOE ro JOHN E. GRAHAM, JE., OE sAME PLACE.

IMPROVED SPRING BED-BOTTOM.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 41,358, dated January 26, 1864.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE BEvIs, a citizen of the Kingdom of Great Britain, but now temporarily residing in Rochester, county of Monroe, and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bed-Bottoms; and I d'o hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved bed-bottom as applied to a bedstead; Fig. 2, a similar view of the same detached from the bedstead; Fig. 3, a cross-section of two of the rounds or slats, showing the manner of uniting them; Fig. 4, a diagram showing a side view of v the bed-bottom, and illustrating the elasticity or spring of the same.

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

My invention consists of a bed-bottom made up of slender rounds or slats, secured closely together by means of cords or equivalent, in such a manner as to form a continuous and elastic surface.

As represented in the drawings, the bedbottom is composed of a suitable number of small wooden rounds or slats, c c-say from half an inch to an inch or more in diameter, and of a length sufficient to reach the Whole length of the bedstead. These are bound together closely side by side by means of cords b b, or equivalent, either passing around each round or slat7 as shown in Fig. 3, or passing through, or arranged in some similar manner. There are several advantages resulting from this arrangement not attained in any other with which I am acquainted.

First. Acontinuous bed-bottomisproduced, or one without open space between the rounds or slats sufficient to allow any portion of the bed or mattress to fall between them, as in the ordinary arrangement, where slats are employed and situated a considerable distance apart, while at the same time far enough apart to admit of free ventilation, thereby being of great value in a torrid climate, or in hot weather, as from their yielding easiness to the body the rods can be lain on very comfortably with only a quilt or coverlet spread over them, thereby securing two very desirable objects-viz., a soft and easy support, and great coolness and comfort.

Second. This continuous bottom is as elastic or yielding as the ordinary device provided with steel springs, which is much more costly and cumbersome. Each ofthe rounds or slats, being made so small in diameter, springs downward readily, as indicated in Fig. 4; but each is prevented from breaking by being attached to its fellows, which thus'share the weight. Asv the person turns in bed, the spring of the slats follows his weight in a wave, as it were, those where his weight rested before straightening. Therefore the mattress is held up fully on either side of him--an effect that is not accomplished in ordinary arrangements where the whole bottom springs together. Besides the mutual support afforded by the manner of uniting them, the grain of the wood in the several rods or slats must naturally be so varied that it will be almost impossible for the bottom to become bent down by constant usage; and if such should ever occur, the bottom may easily be inverted or turned over, and thus the device be kept in proper condition to produce the desired elasticity.

Third. The bottom may be readily manufactured of so many different sizes as to fit almost every bed; and whenever it so happens that the bed is too narrow to allow the bottom to fit it exactly, one or more of the rods or slats may easily be detached from the others, and the ends of the cords or equivalent thereto bc secured with little difficulty; or one or more of the rods may be turned over upon or under the others, as indicated in red lines, Fig. 2; and, thus arranged, there is no dan ger of the bottom becoming displaced, for the rods or slats rest closely together, and cannot be crowded inward. Ordinary slats have to t in a socket or mortise at the head and foot of the bed to keep them in place, or else, when connected by means of tape or cord, they have to be secured in a very clumsy and troublesome manner to the bed-posts or corners of the bedstead, while it is not pretended that they possess any elastic properties worthy ot' the name.

Fourth. This bed-bottom can be rolled up in compact form (as in Fig. 5) for transportation, and in this condition the slats cannot slip out endwise, for they are held by, the cords b b. Ordinary slats require either to be inclosed in zt sack er to be thoroughlybound at the ends, otherwise they are liable to be lost. And when my device is unrclled it is in condition to be placed on the bedsteed et once, without fixing slet by slet et e time7 or using any fastening whatever.

In this manner my improved device forms :t new article of manufacture easy of transportatien and applicable to old beds'teads of any width.

I do not claim merely securing` slats of e bedstead together by ineens of cords, as I am aware that such is not new; b ut What I claim es my invention, Vand desire to secure by Letters Pet-ent, as anew article of manufacture, is-

witnesses.

l GEORGE BEVIS. Witnesses:

J. E. GRAHAM, Jr.,

R. F. Oseooii. 

